Fireplace construction



May 27, 1941. G. w. DONLEY FIREPLACE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 9, 1940FHHHHnhHuH-D m INVENTOR.

N mm W v M 0 ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 27, 1941 UNITED STTES PAT NT OFFICE FIREPLACE. CONSTRUCTIONApplication March 9, 1940, Serial No. 323,190

6 Claims.

This invention relates to fireplace units of the general typeillustrated, described and claimed in my Patent No. 2,151,016 issuedMarch 21, 1939, the units of the type referred to in said patent beingadapted to be set into a building construction and to provide for thecirculation of air in heat-transferring relation to the said units,whereby heat may be transferred by convection as well as by radiation tothe rooms in which the units are installed.

The general object of my invention herein is to secure a greater heatingefficiency than is obtainable by the construction embodied in myaforesaid patent, with resultant economy in fuel consumption. A furtherand more limited object of the invention is to incorporate, with thefireplace unit disclosed in my aforesaid patent, a raised forehearthwhich also serves as a means for introducing the air to be heatedbeneath the bottom of the fire chamber and to the sides and back of thespace surrounding the fire chamber in a manner different than isdisclosed in the said patent, whereby the better air-heating efliciencyand improved economy in operation, referred to above, are obtainable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fireplace unit of thetype referred to with particularly efficient insulating means.

I accomplish the foregoing objects, as well as additional objects whichwill be set forth hereinafter, in and through the construction andarrangement of parts shown in the drawing hereof wherein Fig. 1represents a front view of a fireplace construction embodying myinvention; Fig. 2 is a sectional View corresponding to the line 2-2 ofFig. 1; Fig. 3 a sectional view corresponding to the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral l indicates a wall of a roomprovided with a mantel comprising a slab ll of insulating material andhaving a fireplace-receiving space and a front surface l2, l3 denotes myfireplace unit generally, the same being of double-walled constructionthereby to provide a passage between the walls for the circulation ofair to be heated and to be delivered therefrom into the room, as bymeans of outlets I00, as well as to another room or rooms by one or moreducts (not shown). The said fireplace unit, as shown, includes a rearwall l4; vertical side Walls 55; an upper bottom wall I6 and a lowerbottom wall I! forming the upper and lower walls or plates of aninsulating base; a top wall l8; and an upper front wall I9.

Within the opening below the wall I9 there is inserted a combined firechamber and smoke chamber, the former chamber having a bottom wall 20,above and spaced from the wall I6; rearwardly convergent side walls 2|;and a back wall comprising a lower vertical portion 22 and a forwardlyinclined portion 22 The upper portions of the side and back walls formwith the lower portion of the front wall 23 a throat at 23 which isprovided with a damper 23 adapted to be operated in any convenientmanner.

The gases of combustion from the fire chamber are adapted to passthrough the throat 23 into a radiating smoke chamber 24 defined by.

a rear wall 2:1 extending approximately parallel with the wall M, therearwardly and upwardly inclined front upper portion of the wall 23, andthe upwardly and inwardly convergent side walls 25. The convergent walls25 form with the front and rear walls a restricted outlet or throat 26for connection with the fiue. 2'! denotes the bottom or smoke shelf ofthe chamber 24, being located just back of the throat 23 The upperportion of the space surrounding the fire chamber and the chamber 2G isprovided with one or more outlets (not shown) additional to the outletslflll for the delivery of heated air.

With the construction as thus far described, I preferably employ in thespace between the double walls of the fireplace unit circulation platesof sheet metal which are adapted to intercept radiant heat from the firechamber and permit the same to be transferred by radiation and bycontact to the moving air stream in such space. These plates arepreferably arranged in substantially the same manner as shown in myprior patent and insure a maximum transfer of heat from the fire chamberwalls 20, 2|, 22, 22 and from the smoke chamber wall 24 to the airstream, while maintaining the external walls of the unit relativelycool.

At the rear of the fire chamber and in the space between the same andthe rear wall I4 are inner and outer circulation plates 28 and 29supported from the rear wall 22 of the fire chamber by brackets 28 and29 respectively 30 denotes another circulation plate, having its bottomlocated between the tops of the plates 28, and

29 and spaced from walls 22 and I4 and being supported from the wall 22*by brackets 30*. The top of the wall 30 is located beneath the rearportion of the bottom or smoke shelf 21 of the smoke chamber 24 and isspaced therefrom.

3| denotes another circulation plate, located between the walls l4 and24 and supported from the latter wall by brackets 31 This plate extendsbelow the upper end of the plate and, because the wall 24 convergesupwardly toward the wall I4, it provides a space of gradually decreasingwidth from the bottom to the top for the passage of air between itselfand the said wall; it is also preferably parallel with the wall l4, andits upper end is spaced a short distance from the top wall I3.

32 denotes circulation plates extending vertically in the spaces betweenthe side walls 15 of the unit and the rearwardly convergent sides 21 ofthe fire chamber. These plates extend substantially parallel with thesides I5 of the unit and are conveniently supported from the sides '21of the fire chamber by brackets 3%. A similar construction is shown inmy aforesaid patent.

33 denotes the forehearth generally, the same being located directly infront of the unit ,as

thus far described and forming part of the complete unit. It forms, withthe floor or hearth therebeneath, a casing which issubstantiallyrectangular in section and which extends entirely acrossthe frontof the fireplace. 'It comprises an upper wall 2.8 whichpreferably constitutesa 0011- tinuation of the wall 2:9 which forms thebottom of the fire chamber. In addition to the wall 28 thecasing isprovided with a front wall 34, preferably having its lower end-providedwith a flange 34 for supporting the outer or front of the .forehearth onthe floor or hearth proper. The ends of the forehearth are-shownassubstantiallyop-en,

being provided with screens 36 through which air is admitted. denotes apartition wall located beneath the bottom wall 22 of the fire chamber,

and '3'! denotes partition walls-also located be- .neathithe bottom ofthe fire chamber and parallel with the partition wall 36. Thesepartition walls are located above and supported upon the upper wall orplate It of the insulated base which is located below the fire chamberand which is coextensive in width and depth with the unit housing andwhich base also serves as a support for the fire chamber andsmokechamber, being provided with a rear wall 38 and side walls 39 extendingabove the wall or .plate to and constituting bottom extensions of therear :and side walls of the housing; also with a front wall whichextends only to the top wall or plate I6, being spaced from the front ofthe fire chamber bottom 2tizto provide therewithan elongatedslotA-l ofthe full width of'the front of the unit, for admission ofairfrom the.forehearthzto the duct ;iorrned between the :plates or walls 26 and &6.It will be noted that the partition walls 3:6 and-3T5 support the fireand smoke-chamber assembly from the aforesaid base, the said partitionwalls extending :to the continuation 33 of the housing wall 114. ,Itwill be noted further that the partition walls 38 and 3'. are preferablyarranged .so that the portions of the complete duct, whichare providedon-each side of the partition wall fifiandbetween the walls 28 and t5are of substantially the same width as the portions which are providedbetween the partition walls 31 and the sides [5 of the housing.Furthermore, the partition walls :3?! are preferably arranged so .as topass beneath and in close proximity to the .rear :lower .corners. of thefire chamber. This arrangementihasibeen found to be particularly usefulin forming an efiicient support for the fireandsmoke chambers and insecuring .a high efiiciency :in the ;matter of effecting heatinterchange between the :fire charnberand the air which is deliveredbeneath thesame-andbetween the same andthe surrounding walls of thehousing. The bottoms of the walls 38 and 40 are flanged, as shown at 38and in for the support of the bottom plate I! and to provide an airspace beneath the base proper. The space between the plates l6 and I1and the cooperating portions of the walls 38 and. 40 is filled withinsulating material, indicated at 42.

It will be noted that the forehearth is provided with a transversepartition wall 33 which is located centrally between the ends of thesame and which registers with the partition wall 36. The partition wall33 corresponds in area with the cross-sectional area of the forehearthcasing so that the air entering the screened openings 35 at oppositeends of the forehearth is deflected by the said partition wall into theduct formed between the partition walls 36 and 31 and between the latterpartition walls and the side walls l5 of the fireplace housing. It willbe noted further that, due to the greater vertical dimensions of thepassageways formed in the forehearth than the vertical dimension -:ofthe duct formed be- -:neath the bottom of the fire chamber, thecrosssectional areas of the passageways formed in the fcrehearth will besubstantially equal to the crosssectional areas of the duct-passageswhich they respectively supply.

As shown in the drawing, my complete unit herein comprises, in addition:to the parts described hereinbefore, a front frame work'comprising anupper horizontally extending angle iron 43 which constitutes part -.ofthe mantel, and :vertical side angle .irons E4, the said angle ironsbeing preferably welded respectively to the lower front edge .of thewall 2-3 and to the front edges of the side walls 2| of thefirezchamber. Theside angles or members 44 preferably extenddownwardlywas :far as the top of the forehearth.

In practice, an edge of one of the flanges of the angle iron 43 iswelded to the lower edge of the front wall '23 of the fire chamber insuch man'- ner that the said flange will extend-outwardly in .ahorizontal direction, the other fiange projecting vertically upward, thetwo flanges providing a support for a mantel :facing element which maybe the slab i of insulating material. in practice, 1e slab and thevertical fiangeof the angle iron 43 are so treated as to present anornamental mantel in appearance. secured each by an edge :of one of theflanges thereof to the corresponding front edge of the appropriate side2! of the fire chamber, thesaid angle irons being so arranged that theother flanges-of each will project .outwardly, as shown.

Where the angle irons are applied to the front :edges of the sides ofthe fire chamber in the manner described, it will be unnecessary toprovide the housing with the frontrwalhportions be- .tween the frontedges of the sides of the fire chamber and the sides of :the housing.

With the parts constructed and arranged as described, it is believed:that the operation will The angle irons 44 .are'

by radiation from said wall as well as by contact with and radiationfrom the partition walls 36 and 31. The air thereafter ascending intothe space surrounding the fire chamber and the smoke chamber will bemost efiiciently heated by radiation from the walls of the said chambersas well as by contact therewith and with the circulation plates in saidspace. Due to this manner of circulating the air, and also to theprovision of the insulated base beneath the bot tom wall of the firechamber and beneath the bottoms of the walls [4 and I5, the base of theunit is prevented from being heated to an extent that will endanger itsuse, even when resting directly upon a wooden fioor. Furthermore, by theuse of the forehearth in the manner described, for the distribution ofair into the space 7 between the fire chamber and the side and rearwalls of the unit proper, I am able to heat more efficiently than is thecase with my prior construction, with resultant economy in fuelconsumption.

It will be evident that numerous changes may be made in the details ofconstruction set forth herein without avoiding the spirit of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a metal fireplace, the combination of an external housing havingfront, rear and side walls, a fire chamber set within the front and sidewalls of the housing and having a bottom wall, and rear and side wallsspaced from the rear and side housing walls, the rear and side walls ofthe housing extending below the bottom wall of the fire chamber, thesaid housing having a wall located below the bottom of the fire chamberand extending to the rear and side walls of the housing and forming thebottom wall of a duct the top whereof is constituted by the bottom wallof the fire chamber, and a forehearth in front of the said fireplace,the said forehearth comprising a casing having an upper wall, saidcasing being adapted and arranged to deliver air from beneath said upperwall into the front of the said duct, the said forehearth being providedwith a partition wall extending transversely thereof and the ductbetween the bottom of the fire chamber and the housing wall therebeneathbeing provided with a partition wall registering with the firstmentioned partition wall and constituting a rearward extension thereof,the last mentioned partition wall extending in proximity to the rearwall of the housing, the said forehearth being provided with openingsfor admitting air thereinto beneath the top thereof and on oppositesides of the partition therein and thence to the front of said duct andon opposite sides of the partition therein.

2. In a metal fireplace, the combination of an external housing havingfront, rear and side walls, a fire chamber set within the front and sidewalls of the housing and having a bottom wall, and rear and side wallsspaced from the rear and side housing walls, the rear and side walls ofthe housing extending below the bottom wall of the fire chamber, thesaid housing having a wall located above the bottom of the rear and sidewalls thereof and below the bottom of the fire chamber and extending tothe rear and side walls of the housing and forming the bottom wall of aduct the top whereof is constituted by the bottom wall of the firechamber, and a forehearth in front of the said fireplace, the saidforehearth comprising 'a casing extending substantially the full widthof the said fireplace housing and having an upper wall constituting aforward and lateral extension of the bottom wall of the fire chamber,the duct between the bottom of the fire chamber and the housing walltherebeneath being provided with partition walls extending substantiallyto the rear wall of the housing, the said forehearth being provided withone or more openings for admitting air thereto beneath the top thereofand thence to the front of said duct throughout the lateral extentthereof.

3. In a metal fireplace, the combination of an external housing havingfront, rear and side walls, a fire chamber set within the front and sidewalls of the housing and having a bottom wall and rear and side wallsspaced from the rear and side housing walls, the rear and side walls ofthe housing extending below the bottom wall of the fire chamber, thesaid housing having a wall located above the bottom of the rear and sidewalls thereof and below the bottom of the fire chamber and extending tothe sides and back of the housing and forming the bottom wall of a ductthe top whereof is constituted by the bottom wall of the fire chamber,the said duct being provided with a partition wall extending from thefront to the rear thereof and substantially midway between the sides ofthe fire chamber and the sides of the housing and the said duct beingalso provided with a partition wall located on each side of the firstmentioned partition wall, and a forehearth comprising a casing having atop wall forming a continuation of the bottom wall of the fire chamher,said casing also having a front wall, the casing walls extendingsubstantially the full width of the fireplace housing and the casinghaving a transverse partition therein extending from the front wallthereof to and registering with the first mentioned partition wall, thesaid forehearth having its opposite ends provided each with a screenedair admission opening and being provided at its rear with elongateddelivery out-'- lets jointly supplying air into the front of the ductand throughout substantially the entire lateral extent thereof.

4. In the combination recited in claim 3, the sides of the fire chamberand of the bottom wall thereof being rearwardly convergent and thesecond and third partition walls extending from the front of the duct tosubstantially the rear housing wall and beneath and adjacent to therespective corners formed by the intersection of the rear and side edgesof the said bottom wall.

5. In the combination recited in claim 2, the housing wall which islocated above the bottom of the rear and side walls of the housing andbelow the bottom of the fine chamber forming the upper wall of a chambercontaining insulating material.

6. In the combination recited in claim 2, the bottom wall of the ductformed below the bottom wall of the fire chamber constituting the upperwall of an insulating base and the partition walls within said ductserving to support the fire chamber from the said bottom wall,

GEORGE W. DONLEY.

